My fiancee and I are acquiring our first home. Our property lawyer has calledto see if we would like to order additional conveyancing searches. As novices we in the dark as to what's recommended for conveyancing in Sonning Common

The scope of Sonning Common conveyancing searches should be triggered based entirely on the property, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your familiarity of the region and risks, your overall appetite to risk. What is important is that you adequately understand what information the searches could give you. You may then decide if you consider that you need that information. Should you be in doubt, ask the property lawyer to offer guidance.

Is there a list of Co-operative panel solicitors in Sonning Common on the Building Society Association’s Website?

No. There is no such directory service on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association sites. Very few lending institutions make their panel listings viewable over the internet. If you are looking for a Sonning Common lawyer on the Co-operative please use our facility.

We expect to receive a DIP from Co-operative this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Co-operative recommend any Sonning Common solicitors on the Co-operative conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Sonning Common solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Co-operative through the process.

The formalities of my purchase has taken place for my property in Sonning Common. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I would like to complain about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?

Most banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Team at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR with full details of your complaint.

I'm buying my first flat in Sonning Common with a loan from Nationwide Building Society. The builders refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The sale representative advised me not to tell my lawyer about this deal as it could affect my mortgage with the lender. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for sale conveyancing in Sonning Common. I have stumble across a web site which looks to be the ideal solution If there is a chance to get all formalities completed via email that would be ideal. Should I be concerned? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Sonning Common. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

Leasehold Conveyancing in Sonning Common - A selection of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

How much is the ground rent and service charge? What restrictions exist in the Sonning Common Lease? It would be wise to enquire if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. For example it is very common in Sonning Common leases that pets are not permitted in certain buildings in Sonning Common. If you love the propertyin Sonning Common however your dog can’t move with you then you will be presented with a hard compromise.